Safety gas valve



' SAFETY GAS VALVE Filed June 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheei l Inventor Ian/raves fl goaz Attorney Patented Aug. 18, 1942 UNITE STATES FATENT OFFECE SAFETY GAS VALVE Lawrence A. Wood, Newburgh, N. Y.

Application June 26, 1941, Serial No. 399,915

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety valves for use particularly in high pressure gas lines between the usual regulator and the gas cock.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a safety valve of the aforementioned character which is adapted to automatically shut 01f the gas in the event of regulator failure from any cause.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an automatic safety valve of the character described comprising novel pressure controlled means for releasably securing the valve in open position. Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a safety gas valve of the character set forth which must be manually reopened after it has automatically closed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a safety gas valve which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a safety gas valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through a the device, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3' of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view in elevation of the valve and stem.

Figure 5 is a detail view in elevation of the slidable latch.

Figure 6 is a detail view in top plan latch.

Figure 7 is adetail view in vertical section of the guide l0.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a body of suitable metal having an inlet 2 and an outlet 3. Between the inlet and the outlet 2 and 3 is an angular partition 4 having formed therein a valve opening 5 for the passage of gas.

Mounted on the body I is a diaphragm unit of the generally by the reference numeral 6. The casing 6 includes complemental upper and lower sections 1 and 3, respectively, which are bolted together at 9. The lower section B is rigidly secured on the body in any suitable manner.

Rising from the bottom of the section 8 is a tubular guide I0. Slidable in the guide I0 is a stem II which extends downwardly into the upper portion of the body Mounted on the lower end portion of the stem is'a valve l2 which is engageable in the opening 5 for controlling the flow of gas therethrou-gh. The stem II is provided with a reduced upper end portion l3 which terminates in a head M.

The guide In includes an enlarged lower portion I5 which accommodates a packing l6 for the stem II. A coil spring I! below the packing I6 is engaged with the valve l2 for yieldingly urging said valve toward closed position in the opening 5. The upper end of the coil spring I! is engaged beneath a packing washer IB.

Slidably mounted on the guide I0 is a flanged ring I9. Secured by a washer 20 and a nut 2| on the flanged ring I9 is a diaphragm 22. The peripheral portion of the diaphragm 22 is secured between the casing sections 1 and 8.

At an intermediate point the guide I0 is formed to accommodate a slidable latch 23 through which the stem passes and through which said stem is slidable. A spring 24 is secured at 25 to the upper portion of the guide l0 and has one end engaged with a beveled end 26 of the latch 23 for yieldingly urging said latch toward operative position. The latch 23 further includes a rounded opposite end portion 21. Rising from the ring |9 is a substantially U-shaped member 28 which limits the sliding movement of the latch 23 in opposite directions. Rising from the casing section 1 is a dome 29 which accommodates the upper portions of the members I0, 28, etc.

Depending from the body is an integral neck 30 which is aligned with the opening 5. Operable in the lower portion of the body I is a plunger 3| which is engageable with the valve l2 for opening said valve against tension of the coil spring H. The plunger 3| includes a stem 32 which extends downwardly through the neck 30 and has threaded on its lower end portion a head 33. A packing 34 is provided for the stem 32.

,A coil spring 35 in the neck 33 has one end engaged with the head 33 and its other end engaged with a packing washer 36 for yieldingly resisting upward movement of the plunger 3|. A recomprising a metallic casing which is designated movable cap 31 is provided on the neck 30.

The diaphragm 22 provides a pressure chamber 38 in the lower portion of the casing 6. This pressure chamber 38 is provided with an inlet 39.

In use, the body I is interposed in the line between the gas cock and the regulator. The chamber 38 of the diaphragm unit is connected to the regulator vent line at a point adjacent the mercury seal on the vent side. To open the valve to permit the flow of gas through the opening 5, the cap 3! is removed and the plunger 3| is forced upwardly against the tension of the coil spring 35. Thus, the valve 12 and the stem l I are raised against the tension of the coil spring Il. When the valve l2 has been raised in this manner to open position it is secured by the latch 23 which, actuated by the spring 24, enters the reduction formed by the neck I3 and engages beneath the head [4 of the stem l I. Should the regulator fail gas under pressure from the vent line enters the chamber 38 and flexes the diaphragm 22 upwardly thereby raising the ring l9. When thus raised, the ring I9 engages the rounded end portion 2'! of the latch 23 and shifts said latch against the tension of the spring 24 from beneath the head l4 thereby releasing the stem H and permitting the coil spring I? to close the valve I2. From the foregoing it will be seen that the flow of gas through the high pressure service line Will be positively shut off, the valve remaining closed until manually opened through the medium of the plunger 3!. Further, the construction and arrangement is such that the valve cannot be latched in open position as long as the gas pressure in the chamber 38 is maintained.

It is believed that the many advantages of a safety gas valve constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety gas valve of the character described comprising a body, a partition in said body having an opening therein for the passage of gas, a casing mounted on said body, a guide in said casing, a stem slidable in said guide, a valve on said stem engageable in the opening in the partition for controlling the fiow of gas therethrough, means for closing said valve, a latch slidable on the guide and engageable with the stem for releasably securin the valve in open position, and a diaphragm, operable by gas pressure in the casing, slidable on the guide and engageable with said latch for actuating said latch to inoperative position for releasing the stem.

2. A safety gas valve of the character described comprising a body, a partition in said body having an openin therein for the passage of gas, a casing, for the reception of gas under pressure, mounted on said body, a substantially tubular guide in said casing, a stem slidable in said guide, a valve on the stem engageable in the opening for controlling the flow of gas therethrough, a latch on the guide engageable with the stem for releasably securing the valve in open position, resilient means mounted on the guide and engaged with the latch for actuating said latch to operative position, a ring slidable on the guide and engageable with the latch for actuating said latch to inoperative position, a diaphragm in the casing connected to the ring for actuating said ring, and means for closing the valve.

LAWRENCE A. WOOD. 

